Mower.



1. BoHMKEn.

mwen. APPLICATION rFILED lIl ll. I4. UIL

,010.. f N L 'lowering the finger bar,

UNITED sTATEs PigrENr OFFICE..

JOHN C. BOHMKER, 0F BRADLEY, ILLINOIS, yASSIG'NCJB. TO SEARS, ROEBUCKAyNDI COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A

CGRPORATIDN OF NEW YORK.

MOWEB.

Appunti@ mea mmh 14, 1917.

To i ll whom itmay coment.'

E a it lin/own that 4I, JOHN C. BOHMKER, a citi'zflenE df the United'States, residing at Bradley, in the county of Kankakee and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mowers,of which the following isa specification/f This invention relates toimprovements upon mowers of thetype having a main or primary frameworkto which the tongue and the seat support are rigidly attached, and asecondary frame pivotally connected to the main or primary frame, thefinger bar being hinged to the secondary frame.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide improved means forraising and to provide an improved manner of supporting the yoke towhich ,the finger bar is pivoted, and torproviden,. a'n` improvedarrangement of the second'ry frame whereby increased traction isobtained.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevationof a mower embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is afragmental front elevation of the mechanism for lifting the finger bar.Fig. Sie a section through the tongue. Fig. 4 is a fragmental plan viewof the machine.A l

-In the drawing, the main or primary frame is indicated at 1, saidfra-mecomprisf ing a tubular portion lor sleeve 2 through which the axle4 extends. 5 denotes one of tliedrive wheels. seat` support (not shown)are rigidly attached to themain frame 1. The secondary lll5Aframe-consists of three bars 6, 7 and 8. The vstubbleward vend of-thefront bar 6 has a ball-and-soc'ket connection atv 9 with the mainfrarn`e`1. -The opposite end portion of the rigldly connected to thefor- Ward'end of the push bar 7 by`ineans of a bracket or casting 10.The rear end of the push par 7 is pivpted at 11 tol an arm.12 which isri id Withthe tubular portion 2 of the main 'graine and rojectsdownwardly from .said tubular portion. The bar 8'is rigidly 'secured tothe bars 6 and 7 by means of the brackets 13 and 14 and serves to'bracethe secondary frame. Any ordinary or suit-J able means may be providedfor raising the secondary frame to-.lift the cutting mechanism'off theound when desired.-

A yoke 15 1s pivotally mounted upon the Specification at Letters Patent.

The tongue 1 and the' the main frame 1 Patented J an. 29, 1918,'. serialNo. 154,665. i

grassward end of the bar 6, said yokehavlng a front -arm 15i and a reararm 15b that serve pivotally to support the shoe 16 for' the finger bar16.4 As shown in Fig. 4, the sleeve 17 of the yoke has an aperture 18therein through which the bracketl 10 projects. By thus forming anopening in the sleeve 17, it becomes possible to locate the bracket 10close to the extreme end of the liar, wherebythe bar 6 is effectivelysup-. ported against bending stresses, and great strength is obtained.The stubbleward end o'f the sleeve 17 lies belweenthe brackets lil and14.

The means for raising and lowering the finger bar comprises an arm 19fixed 'to'and extending upwardly from vthe shoe 16 ata point forward ofthe front arm 15k1 of the yoke 15. The upper end of said' arm-isconnected by means of a chain or other suitable flexible connection 20to a windinglsegment 21 which is pivoted upon the forward end of thebrace The segment 21 extends toward the shoe 16. When the lingervbar isbeing raised, the chain 20 fis pulleddown under the segment 21. As bestshown in Fig. 2, the periphery of the segment 21 is not concentric withthe axis 8 but is so shaped as todepress the chain 2 as Well as wind orbend the chain -over the periphery of the segment. Rigid with thesegment 21 is -an arm 22 which extends apf proximately dialnetricallyopposite to the segment 21 and is connected by means cfa chain or othersuitable'flexible connection'23 with a lug 24 on a bell crank 25 fixedvto a shaft 26 which is rotatably mounted upon the tongue 1". Thebellcrank25 has a segmental winding portion chain 23 is bent as the bellcrank is swung upwardly. Normally the'lug and the wind-v ing portion27extend fora sdly fromlthe axis 26 of the bell crank 25. The bell crankl25, comprises a forwardly and upwardly4 eX- tending portion which' isconnectedat 28 to aV hand lever 29 by means of a linkl 30, said handlever being pivotally mounted upon in'gerlbar. is in operative 241s inapproximately the horizontal plane of the axis 26 so that turningmovementvv 'of- --cause the Iin'ger bar yrearwardly of the bellcranl'c25. Referring to Fig. 1:Whe n theA position, the point bar 8 infront of the front bar 6'.

27 over which the eatiid with reference to the axis 2G that the liant]lever' 2*.) has eflicienl leverage on the hell crank in raising thelattr'r. AIt desired1 the hand lever 29 may be locked in adjustedposition in an ordinary or suitable manner, as', for exam i e, by meansof a detent 31 en gaging a locking segment 32a.

A coiled tension spring 33 is attached at one end to a pin 34 on thewinding segment 2l. 'lhe other end of the spring is connected to a rod35 which extends slidably through a lug 36 on the bar 6. 37 is a nutturned on the screw-tlu'eaded end of the rod and bearing against the lug3G. 'lhc spring 33 serves to counterlmlance a portion of the Weight ofthe finger har and the parts supported by said bar. The finger har isfurther counterbalanced by means of a coiled tension spring 38 connectedat one end to an arm 39 fixed to the shaft 2t and at its other end to alug 40 on the main frame l. By properly adjusting the mu iT 1hr springs33 and 38 will counterbalance the linger bar to such an extent that saidhar will simply float over the ground. The linger har is thus preventedfrom dragging upon the ground whereby side draft is avoidmh and thepower necessary to pull the linger bar along the ground is saved. Byreason of the employment of the winding segments 2l and 26, the fingerbar may lic lifted from its operative position to an approximatelyvertical position without au inconvenient 41, I'place upon the` amountof movement of the hand lever 29, the counterbalancing ofthe finger barbeing preserved throughout the lifting movement.

It will be apparent from Fig. 1 that the lug 12 is of such length that.the pushing bar 7 of'the secondary frame extends substantiallyhorizontally. Resistance to the advance of the cutting mechanism actingthrough the push rod 7 thereforelnis no tendency to lift the wheels fromthe ground 'and thus reduce their traction.

The shaft 26 is journaled in a plate 41 which is mounted on the tonguela: To provide a firm and durable seat for the vplate Y tongue 1f tw'oangle irons'42 fitting over the upper corners of extendinglongitudinally thereof. The4 angle irons 42 'iay be secured to thetongue 1 in any suitable manner, as, for example, by means of screws 43.The plate 41 is seated directly upon the angleirons 42 and is secured inplace by means of a U-bolt or shackle 44 that extendsv from one cornerof the plate 414 down around'the tongue and up to the diagonally-`opposite corner of the plate.- To assist 1n Vward arm and a rear nersopposite to those engaged by the U-bolt 4i are provided withdownwaidly-extending lugs At6 that bear against the angle irons 42.

A cam 47 on the hand lever 29 is arranged to engage a rocker arm L18 onthe main frame to throw out the clutch (not shown) when the finger barhas reached a degree of elevation rendering any further operation of thecutting mechanism impractical.

The draft connection may be of any suitable character. The preferredconstruction comprisesl a. drauwhar -19 connected-at its rear end to alug 5() on the lower side of the tongue 1I relatively near the axle. Thedoubletree or other draft ap liance is, connected to the forward end othe draw-bar l0. Said drawbar is supported near its forward end hy meansof a strap or loop ol depending from the tongue 12Y l claim as myinvention:

l4 A mower having, in combination, a main frame.r a tongue secured tothe main frame. a secondary frame comprising a front bar pivoted to themain frame, a push bar pivoted to the main frame and rigidly connectedto the front bar, and a brace har rig idly connected to the front barand the push har and extending forwardly of the front liar, a yokemounted on the front bar and having a forward armv and a rear arm, ashoepivoted to said arms, a finger har rigidly connected to the shoe, an armextending upwardly from the shoe forward of the front arm of the yoke, awinding segment pivoted upon the forward end of the brace bar in frontof the front bar and extending toward the shoe, a ex'rble, conneet-ionattached at one end to the upwardly extendino' arm and at its otherendto the lower site of the winding segment, an arm fixed to the windingseg-ment and extending substantially opposite to the Segment, a bellcrank pivotally mounted upon the tongue and having a portion whichnormally extends forwardly of the axis of the hell crank, a. iexibleconnection between said forwardly extending portion of the bell crankand-the arm attached to the winding segment, a hand lever. pivoted onthe vmain frame, said bell crank having a portion which normally extendslupwardly and for.

a secondary, frame comprising a front bar and a pu'sh bar pivoted to themainframe and rigidly connected together, a yoke mounted on the frontbar and having a for arm. a shoe pivoted to said arms, a finger barrigidly connected to the shoe, an arm extending upwardly from the shoeforward of the frontvarm of the yoke, a winding segment pivoted upon the`secondary frame in front ofthe front bar and extending toward the shoe,a flexible connection attachedat` one end to the upextendingsubstantially opposite to the segmet, a bell crank pivotally mountedupon the tongue and having a portion which normally extends Vforwardlyof the axis of the' bell crank, a flexible connection between saidforwardllymr e arm'attached to the winding seg-4 extending portion'ofthe bell crank and t ment, a hand lever pivoted4 on the main i framerearwardly of the bell crank, said bell n crank having a/portion whichnormally ex tends upwardly and forwardly of the axis of the bell crank,and a connection between the hand lever and said upwardly and forwardlyextending portion of the bell crank.

3. A mower having, in combination, a main frame, a tongue secured tothemain frame, a secondary frame comprising a front bar and a push barpivoted to the main frame and rigidly connectedtogether, a yoke mountedVon the front bar and having a for ward arm and a. rear arm, a shoep1voted to `said arms, a linger bar rigidly connected to the shoe, anarm extending upwardly from the shoe forward of the front arm of theyoke, a' winding segment pivoted upon the `secondary frame in front ofthe front bar "and extending towardA the shoe, a flexible connectionattached at one endu to the upv `wardl .to theil extending arm and atits other end ower side of the windingsegment, an arm fixed to theWinding segment and, extending substantially opposite to the ,seg-

l ment, a bell crank pivotally mounted upon the tongue and having aportion which nor- 'mally extends forwardly of the axis of the A bellcrank, a flexible connect-ion between said forwardly extending portionof the `bell crank and the arm-attached to the winding segment, a leverpivoted on the main frame,

l and-a connection betweenthe lever and the hellfcrank.

4. A mowe'r having, in combination, a main frame, a secondary frameswingingly connected to the main frame, a finger bar pivotcd to thesecondary frame, ai winding segment pivoed on the secondary 'frame andextending toward the finger bar, un arm fixed to the segment andextending in substantially the opposite direction, a flexible connectionbetween the winding segment and the finger har, a bell crank pivoted onthe mainframe, a flexible connection between .said arm and thebellcrank, a lever on the main frame and connected to the bell crank forlifting the latter, a spring connected to the bellcrank, said springbeing connected `to the main frame, and a spring connected bar, a.member connecting tends at one end to the winding segment and adjustablyconnected at its other endto` the secondary' frame, said springscoperating to counterbalance the finger bar. p

5.A mower having, in combination, 'a inain frame, a secondary lframe,swingingly connected to" the main frame, a finger bar pivoted 4to'thesecondary qiframe, winding segment pivoted on one of said framespandextending towardvthe finger bar, an arm fixed to the segment andextending in su-bstantially the `opposite direction, a flexibleconnection between said arm and the finger bar, a bell crank pivoted onthe main frame, a flexible connection between the winding segment `andthe bell crank, a leveron the main frame and connected tothe bell crankfor lifting tlielatter, a spring connected to the bell crank, and aspring connected. to the winding segment, said springs cooperating tocoimterbalance the finger bar, `6. Aemower having, in combination,` amain frame comprising a tubular portion,

an axle extending through `said portion,` a

said lug, said push barextending approxi mately horizontally when,` thesecondary frame is in operative position. y

7. A mower "having, in combination, a main frame, a. secondary framecomprising a front bar and a push bar, the stubbleward end of the frontbar beingvmovably connected to the main frame, the grassward end ot' thefront bar being connected to the forward end of the push bar, a lugextending downwardly from the main frame, the rear end of the push barbeing pivoted to said lug, said push bar extending approximately hor'-izontally when the secondary frame is in operative position. Y i

8. A mower having, in combination, a mainframe, a secondary 'frereswingingly connected to the main fra the secondary frame comprising afront and a push grassward end ard e-nd of the d upon the front of said.connecting of the front bar to the push bar, and a yoke n bar atopposite en n'iember.

A mower having, in` combination, a main frame, n secondary frameswingingly connected to the lmain trame, the secondary frame comprisinga front bar and another bar, a member connecting said bars, and a yokepivotally supported upon the grassward end of the front bar, said yokehaving an opening through which said member ex- 10. mower having, incombination, a tongueangle irons fitting over the corners -of saidtongue and extending longitudinally ther of, al plate seated on saidangle irons,

,af U-bolt engaging kdi'agonally-oppositc corners of said plate andextending around the 1 tongue, lugs on the other two corners of theplate extending downwardl angle irons, and studs on sai plate extendinginto openings in said angle irons' to pre-- vgage the angle irons andprevent turning of the plate, and a U-bolt engaging said platel and.extending around the tongue.

13. A mower having, in comblnation, a

' 0- tongue, a late, a U-bolt engaging said plateV and exten ing aroundthe tongue, and means to prevent the plate from turning with referenceto the tongue. l

14. A mower havin in combination, a main frame, a secon ary frame, ayoke mounted o@ the secondary frame, aV shoe besidey saidy over thecorners pivoted `to the yoke, an arm extending upwardly from the shoe, awinding segment pvoted upon the secondary frame and exf tending towardthe shoe, a llexble connection `attached at one end to the arm and atits other end `to they lower side of the winding segment, an arm fixedto the winding segment and extending Substantially opposite to thesement, `a bell crank piv'otally l supported wit i reference to the mainframe,

a flexible connection between saidbell crank and the second mentionedarm, a lever on the main frame, and a connection between the lever andsaid bell crank for swinging the bell crank to pull the first mentionedflexible connection down. below the axis of the winding segment,

15, A mower having, in combination, a main frame, a front bar pivotedtothe main frame, a push bar pivoted to the main -.fran1e, abracketrigidly uniting the forward end of the push bar and the grasswardend of the front bar, a brace bar connected at its rear end to the pushbar, a bracket connecting the forward portion of the brace bar to thefront bar, and a yoke having a` sleeve rotatably mounted upon the grassward end of the front har, said sleeve having an openin 'therein throughwhich the first nientione bracket projects, `the stubbleward end of saidsleeve lying between said brackets.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. -v Y I JOHN C.-BOHMKER

